Helping You Love Yourself into Success and Less Stress! Multi-Dimensional Stress Management Part I: Some Physical Strategies by Ilenya Marrin, DSS HOME FREE NEWSLETTER PRODUCTS SERVICES ABOUT ME TESTIMONIALS RESOURCES CONTACT Stress Management Remember that some stress is healthy and keeps you motivated to accomplish your goals. You want to eliminate unhealthy, excessive stress with excellent stress management approaches. The following tips are highlights of many possible ways to begin a natural stress management program in your life. Making small changes in the multiple dimensions of your consciousness -- physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually -- can greatly increase your relaxation and improve your stress management. Physical Strategies for Stress Management Move your body to improve stress management! Walk, run, do yoga or cardio exercises. Swim. Mow the lawn, shovel snow, climb stairs. Get on your exercise machine. Do your favorite sport. Walk the dog. It really doesn't matter! A big key for stress management on the physical level is to dissipate the energy that causes tension by vigorous movement. Physical activity is a stress management tool that can fatigue the muscles and stimulate natural feelings of relaxation and a more positive mood. The rhythms of movement give your mind a break. Walking is a top notch stress management technique because it also allows your thoughts to settle, and often you'll relax enough that creative solutions to problems may appear. Areobics, yoga and sports demand concentration on the physical element. Again, these activities are great for stress management in that they give you a break from stressful thoughts and emotions. Physical exercise improves stress management by oxygenating your system, reducing the stress hormone cortisol, and increasing feelings of well-being. Some form of regular physical activity is a wonderful foundation for your stress management program. Another article will delve into nutritional strategies to help with stress management. A Quick Tension Reliever for Stress Management Here's another incredibly simple physical level stress management tip. Especially if you have tension problems with your neck and back, try squeezing your shoulder blades together for five to ten seconds, then relax and repeat a few times. Then experiment with lifting and tightening your shoulders, squeezing them up toward your neck for a few seconds, then totally relaxing. This is where I carry a great deal of tension. My personal stress management improved when I started doing these microscopic exercises several times a day. Not only did I get instant assistance with alleviating tension and discomfort, I improved another small area of my stress management. My chiropractor noted that my muscle tone improved greatly and my adjustments "held" better! (Check with your doctor first to be safe with this and any other exercise program for stress management.) However you tackle physical tension, gaining a little more muscle relaxation can really help with stress management of any major symptoms or outcomes of your chronic stress. Put Stress Management to Work in Your Bedroom If you are one of millions who are sleep deprived from stress plus an over-full schedule, try one or more of these strategies to improve sleep and thereby your stress management. Create an atmosphere conducive to sound sleep. A first step for stress management would be to make your bedroom really dark. Keep it uncluttered and restful. Avoid doing activities other than sleep (or sex) in bed. Take the TV out of the bedroom. Wear earplugs if your mate snores. More specific stress management tips for sleep time: Avoid drinking liquids after dinner, so bathroom wakes ups are not excessive. Try running a fan or playing a white noise tape to mask distracting sounds. Read a boring book for a while before you go to bed. The more you can get a good night of uninterrupted sleep, the more you'll be boosting your stress management quotient. Another stress management approach for sleep that spills over into our next article is to read an inspiring passage from a favorite text and focus on one key idea as an affirmation as you drift off. When you are rested it is much easier to stay relaxed and handle stressful situations with ease. When you are getting enough sleep it will be easier to stay on top of other elements in your stress management program. Go to Multi-Dimensional Stress Management, Part II: Some Imaginative Strategies.

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